Fukche Advanced Landing Ground[2] (ICAO: VI66)[1] is an airfield in the Demchok sector of the union territory of Ladakh, India. It was built shortly before the 1962 Sino-Indian War and was revived in 2008. It is located adjacent to Koyul, 34 km northwest of Demchok.
The Fukche Landing Ground is in the Koyul Lungpa river valley, close to the confluence of the river with the Indus River (called "Sengge Zangbo" locally). The Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, which runs along the Indus River, is only 2.5 kilometres away.[3] Beyond the LAC is Chinese-controlled Demchok sector up to the Chang La pass (also called Xingong La).
There is a regular highway from Fukche to Dungti and beyond (leading to Leh and Chushul), and an unmetalled road to Demchok, 34 km southeast at the southern tip of the Indian-controlled Demchok sector.
China runs a "Sengge Zangbo highway" adjacent to the LAC and a "Kigunaru highway" going to Chang La and beyond.
Historyedit
The landing ground was first prepared in 1961 in advance of the 1962 Sino-Indian war. It was the sixth such landing ground to be prepared in Ladakh, starting with Leh in 1948 (which was in the midst of the First Kashmir War). According to a retired Army officer, "The Landing Grounds were built on grounds that were hard, barren and sandwiched between almost a range of parallel running mountains. At most places it was a question of removing boulders, filling potholes and generally leveling the ground. The good old infantry equipment of a pick axe, shovel and crow bar came in very handy."[4]
After the 1962 Sino-Indian war, the airstrip fell out of use. It was reopened on 4 November 2008 by the Indian Air Force, when an AN-32 transport aircraft was successfully landed there.[5][6] The reactivation of the landing ground, along with another reactivation of the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip earlier in May of the same year, allows Indian forces to deploy faster and in greater numbers, which China is believed to have taken as a threat.[7] During the 2013 Depsang standoff, China demanded the bunkers being constructed at Fukche be stopped. But the Indians pointed out the constant upgrading of the Chinese infrastructure on their side of the LAC. In the end, the Chinese disengaged at Despang without insisting on concessions regarding Fukche.[8]
Facilitiesedit
The airfield has an unpaved gravelly runway of 2 miles length. It accommodates small transport aircraft, meant for inducting or recycling troops at the border.[6]
Road connectivityedit
"Chushul-Dungti-Fukche-Demchok Highway" (CDFD road), along the southern bank of Indus river which marks the LAC, will be converted to a single-lane 7.45 m wide 135 km long national highway with paved shoulder by 31 March 2025. Chushul and Fukche Airstrips lie along this highway. It will also provide faster access to the Nyoma airbase.[9]
"Likaru-Mig La-Fukche Road" (LMLF Road), through 19,400 ft Mig La, commencement of construction was announced by the BRO on 15th August 2023. After the completion, it will overtake the "Chisumle-Demchok Road" (via Umling La, 19,300 ft) to become the highest motorable road in the world. Road via Umling La already passes at a height higher than the base camp of world's tallest mountain, the Mount Everest.[10]
^ "IAF craft makes successful landing near China border", NDTV News, 2008, archived from the original on 5 September 2012
^ ab Sujan Dutta, IAF lands on Ladakh strip, The Telegraph, 4 November 2008.
^Sujan Dutta, Delhi spies airstrip design in China tents, The Telegraph (India), 30 April 2013.
^Shishir Gupta, The Himalayan Face-off (2014), Chapter 1 (Introduction): "Indian reasons were quite evident as the PLA was constantly upgrading its infrastructure across eastern Ladakh with roads coming close to the notional LAC and a huge military observation post coming up at Demchok, north of Chumar.".
^BRO starts process for 135-km road near LAC from Chushul to Demchok, News18, 24 Jan 2023.
^On Independence Day, BRO begins work on key road in Ladakh sector, hindustan times, Aug 16, 2023.
Bibliographyedit
Gupta, Shishir (2014), The Himalayan Face-Off: Chinese Assertion and the Indian Riposte, Hachette India, ISBN978-93-5009-606-2
Further readingedit
Air Marshal K. K. Nohwar, Pace of Infrastructure Development in Border Areas: Adequate?, Centre for Air Power Studies, 13 March 2018
External linksedit
IAF's ALG
October 27, 2023
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Fukche Advanced Landing Ground 2 ICAO VI66 1 is an airfield in the Demchok sector of the union territory of Ladakh India It was built shortly before the 1962 Sino Indian War and was revived in 2008 It is located adjacent to Koyul 34 km northwest of Demchok Fukche Advanced Landing GroundIATA noneICAO VI66 1 SummaryAirport typeMilitaryOperatorIndian Air ForceLocationLadakh IndiaElevation AMSL13 700 ft 4 176 mCoordinates32 56 15 N 79 12 48 E 32 93750 N 79 21333 E 32 93750 79 21333MapFukcheShow map of LadakhFukcheShow map of India Interactive fullscreen map nearby articles Fukche near the LAC Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Facilities 4 Road connectivity 5 See also 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 Further reading 9 External linksLocation editThe Fukche Landing Ground is in the Koyul Lungpa river valley close to the confluence of the river with the Indus River called Sengge Zangbo locally The Line of Actual Control LAC with China which runs along the Indus River is only 2 5 kilometres away 3 Beyond the LAC is Chinese controlled Demchok sector up to the Chang La pass also called Xingong La There is a regular highway from Fukche to Dungti and beyond leading to Leh and Chushul and an unmetalled road to Demchok 34 km southeast at the southern tip of the Indian controlled Demchok sector China runs a Sengge Zangbo highway adjacent to the LAC and a Kigunaru highway going to Chang La and beyond History editThe landing ground was first prepared in 1961 in advance of the 1962 Sino Indian war It was the sixth such landing ground to be prepared in Ladakh starting with Leh in 1948 which was in the midst of the First Kashmir War According to a retired Army officer The Landing Grounds were built on grounds that were hard barren and sandwiched between almost a range of parallel running mountains At most places it was a question of removing boulders filling potholes and generally leveling the ground The good old infantry equipment of a pick axe shovel and crow bar came in very handy 4 After the 1962 Sino Indian war the airstrip fell out of use It was reopened on 4 November 2008 by the Indian Air Force when an AN 32 transport aircraft was successfully landed there 5 6 The reactivation of the landing ground along with another reactivation of the Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip earlier in May of the same year allows Indian forces to deploy faster and in greater numbers which China is believed to have taken as a threat 7 During the 2013 Depsang standoff China demanded the bunkers being constructed at Fukche be stopped But the Indians pointed out the constant upgrading of the Chinese infrastructure on their side of the LAC In the end the Chinese disengaged at Despang without insisting on concessions regarding Fukche 8 Facilities editThe airfield has an unpaved gravelly runway of 2 miles length It accommodates small transport aircraft meant for inducting or recycling troops at the border 6 Road connectivity edit Chushul Dungti Fukche Demchok Highway CDFD road along the southern bank of Indus river which marks the LAC will be converted to a single lane 7 45 m wide 135 km long national highway with paved shoulder by 31 March 2025 Chushul and Fukche Airstrips lie along this highway It will also provide faster access to the Nyoma airbase 9 Likaru Mig La Fukche Road LMLF Road through 19 400 ft Mig La commencement of construction was announced by the BRO on 15th August 2023 After the completion it will overtake the Chisumle Demchok Road via Umling La 19 300 ft to become the highest motorable road in the world Road via Umling La already passes at a height higher than the base camp of world s tallest mountain the Mount Everest 10 See also editList of Indian ALGs India China military deployment on LAC India China Border RoadsReferences edit a b Fukche Airbase Code World Airport Codes Retrieved 3 February 2020 Fukche Advanced Landing Ground Airport airortguide com retrieved 10 October 2019 IAF aircraft lands at a forward base on India China border Thaindian News 4 November 2008 archived from the original on 12 February 2009 Rao Nirupama Menon 2022 The Fractured Himalaya India Tibet China 1949 to 1962 Penguin Random House Chapter 15 ISBN 9780670088294 IAF craft makes successful landing near China border NDTV News 2008 archived from the original on 5 September 2012 a b Sujan Dutta IAF lands on Ladakh strip The Telegraph 4 November 2008 Sujan Dutta Delhi spies airstrip design in China tents The Telegraph India 30 April 2013 Shishir Gupta The Himalayan Face off 2014 Chapter 1 Introduction Indian reasons were quite evident as the PLA was constantly upgrading its infrastructure across eastern Ladakh with roads coming close to the notional LAC and a huge military observation post coming up at Demchok north of Chumar BRO starts process for 135 km road near LAC from Chushul to Demchok News18 24 Jan 2023 On Independence Day BRO begins work on key road in Ladakh sector hindustan times Aug 16 2023 Bibliography editGupta Shishir 2014 The Himalayan Face Off Chinese Assertion and the Indian Riposte Hachette India ISBN 978 93 5009 606 2Further reading editAir Marshal K K Nohwar Pace of Infrastructure Development in Border Areas Adequate Centre for Air Power Studies 13 March 2018External links editIAF s ALG Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fukche amp oldid 1170712728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
